Tranny / Diff Problem

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Nov 3, 2005 | 09:48 PM

jimvh2

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Tranny / Diff Problem

A couple of days ago my son called me on his 99 Ranger. He was leaving a store and the truck stopped dead. After reversing out of a parking space he put it in drive and the truck wuld not move.

I went up to hs truck with a car dolly and hooked it up. Got about 2 blocks away and the l/r axle seperated from the diff and came almost all of the way out. Before I put it on the dolly I had him start it and put it in gear, the trans was not moving the driveine. After checking this I figured a tranny problem, but after having the axle come out I'm think diff.

Please give me a little help here; Trans / Diff or both. The truck has about 77K on it and up until now has been great. No issues at all. It is the 6cyl auto extended cab. I think the trans is a E4OD.

Thanks,
Jim

Nov 3, 2005 | 11:31 PM

Rockledge

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From: Connecticut

I've never heard of something like that happening to a Ranger. It could be that the diff is shot and all jammed up, and that's why the driveshaft won't move when in gear. Try disconnecting the driveshaft and then check to see if there is any movement from the tranny. I assume this is a 2WD otherwise the shaft would be connected to the tranfer case.

I have to admit, I'm having a hard time picturing what happened in my head.

Nov 4, 2005 | 07:34 PM

jimvh2

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I spoke to the shop today. The diff is completely locked up. This sudden lock up caused the pins that hold the axles in to come off. The axles were able to walk out of the housing. They think the diff froze because of lack of oil. this was a used truck and I didn't have all of the fluids serviced after we bought it. (shame on me)

The out put shaft on the trans is probably shot, even though they don't have it apart yet. Right now I'm looking at a trans rebuild and diff rebuild. Unless thay can find a good used diff. $2500 for a truck that's worth $5K. Aren't kids fun? I guess not everyone does their services at the suggested intervals. Like I told my son - this is a lesson learned and like all hard lessons theytneed to hurt a little to sink in.

Nov 4, 2005 | 08:50 PM

CowboyBilly9Mile

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From: Eastern WA

Tow it home and promptly cut off that shop. Ranger rear ends are abundant in wrecking yards, very durable, and not too difficult to install, not to mention a whole lot cheaper than what that shop wants charge to fiddle around. I also have a real hard time convincing myself that a tranny and a rear end both failed at the same time. Ideally, your boy will work on his own truck (just like I did when I was young) and this will be a good learning experience.

** Why not take it one step at a time. First, determine why the axle was comming out.